A Youthful Approach: Expanding the Reach of Breast Cancer Prevention

This blog is from The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is the world’s oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research. For more information, visit www.AACR.org. See link below.

Guest Post by Graham A. Colditz, MD, DrPH
Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine

Most of us are prone to some level of procrastination. From filing taxes to buying birthday gifts to paying bills, we can put some things off to the last possible moment. And apart from a bit of added stress from bumping up against a deadline, what real difference does it make? Usually very little.

The answer to that question, though, takes a serious turn when we consider something like chronic disease prevention. Study after study shows that the earlier in life healthy behaviors take hold, the greater the opportunity to lower the risk of diseases like heart disease and cancer – and to extend life.

Unfortunately, many of us don’t consider the importance of prevention until we hit mid-life, when the prospect of chronic diseases actually begins to feel more real. At this point, though, some significant opportunities have been passed by.

And the weight of new evidence shows that this may be particularly so when it comes to breast cancer. SEE MORE HERE.